Improvement in motive powers



B. J. SAGE. 7 Improvement in Motive-Power.

Patented May 28,1872.

AM, Mam-uw/amwum 00.1w. [meow/Ks PROCESS.)

.ends or objects.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;-

BERNARD J. SAGE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOTIVE POWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,189, dated May28,1872 antedated May 17, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

chanical Arrangement and Combination, of

which the following is a specification, for applying different anddistinct motors, either separately or conjointly with each other, to theaccomplishment of a My improvement consists of the union of the tensileforce of a spring or of several springs,

the power of a weight and pulley, and a dog-' power, in such manner thatall, or two only, or I one of the same may be used for any one givenobject, accordingly as the motive power requisite to the accomplishmentof that object may be more or less, or for the simultaneousaccomplishment of several objects; and also in such wise that theseforces, or, more accurately,lthe mechanisms which produce them, may bedetachable from each other, and hence susceptible of easy independent orseparate application. It is not my design to create an organism which iscapable of indefinite amplification or extension of power, even when thethree forces combined by me are jointly applied to the attainment of onepurpose; but one which will be sufficient only to operate the thousandand one small machines that are used in the mechanic and useful arts,and for household and domesticpurposes requiring a'limited measure ofpower to work thema sort of motor, in a word, which will be'of universalapplication to every'machine that is used by man, whatever may be thespecial nature and function of the same, which does not need, to operateit, more power than can be developed by the three forces, so to callthem, which I have specified and propose to combine; but

My invention will be better understood by reference to the drawing, onwhich-- Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view of thesame- That is to say, these figures on the drawing illustrate my designwith sufficient clea-rness to make it understood, while they by no meansexhibit its full scope, as will readily be perceived when it isremembered that it is intended to subserve mainfold uses, whereas on thedrawing only a revolving fan and an ordinary churn are connected withit. The different modes and means designed by me for congreat variety ofuseful necting my invention in part or in whole with the multifariousmachines to be operated by it need not herein be described or specified,since they are well-known mechanical devices to which I lay no claim toan exclusive use. Fig. 1, that portion of the arrangement on theright-hand side of the letter A represents a mechanism through which thetensile force of the volute-spring B, secured on an independent, b, isapplied to practice, whether employed to rotate, or to vibrate one ormore fans, G Gr, to operate a sewing-machine or any other machine amongthe many to which it may be applied. This mechanism may be, as shown,substantially the same as that of an ordinary clock or very considerablymodified, the only two conditions with respect to its construction thatare absolutely or imperatively necessary being that it shall in allcases be provided with means for connecting it with whatever ma chine itis to operate, and be so made as readily to be coupled to and uncoupledfrom another organism in which a weight and pulley, 1) E, the latterbeing secured on an independent axle, e, are the motiveinstrumentalities, either as co-operative with the tensile power of thespring B, or as a separate'and distinct power to be alone employed forany special'purpose, as, for example, such a one as is shown on thedrawing on the left-hand side of the letter A, and between that letterand the letter O. The

tensile force of the spring B being thus susceptible of a positiveconnection with the power of a weight and pulley, and being, moreover,so adjusted with reference to the mechanism through which that power isdeveloped and utilized, that when either is exhausted the other willcontinue in active exercise, is no longer dependent solely on itself,but whenever necessary, becomes an element of a combination which mayreadily be brought to develop a power far beyond a mere duplication ofits own, and will therefore put in motion a machine beyond the power ofeither to operate singly, and to keep said machine in motion some timeafter theforce of the spring or the power of the weight and pulley, asthe case may be, has been quite spent or exhausted, especially if themachine in question he assisted, after it has been started, by themomentum of a fly-wheel or other equivalent appliance.

As in the case of the mechanism for applying the force. of the spring B,I reserve the right of making any modification of that through which thepower of the weight is utilized and applied, and of using'th'e bestmeans for connecting the same with any machine I may desire to work withit, either with or without the conjunction of the other forces employedby me. This organism for applying the power of the weight and pulley ispro'- vided with means for connecting it with a third power whenever theexigencies of the case may require it, so that I' may under suchcircumstances increase my power beyond what is possible with the springand the weight, even whencombined. This power is what is popularly knownas dog-power, in consequence of the weight of a dog being the'impellingforce. This power is shown at H, Fig. 1, and, likethe spring and pulley,is secured on anindependent axle, h. Thus it will be seen that in theirnormal condition, owing to the fact that each power is secured to itsown distinct axle, and these axles each working in independent bearings,that no connection exists between them. Consequently either of these maybe used at pleasure, without its movementbeing affected by the others.These axles, b e h, are circular, except attheir ends, where theirfacesare squared so as to permit of the connecting or coupling sleeves ambeing so brought in contact with their 'faces that either two of thepowers can readily be so attached as to act together, or when desiredall three. These sleeves a: a are moved to and fro by levers y y, andare so formed as to'p'ermit of their being operated with the leastpossible delay or trouble. Thus I am enabled with the greatestiacilitytoeither complete or interrupt the connection between the axles I) .e hand their respective powersB E Hsimply by shifting the positions of thesleeves ma.

Each of the three organisms, as I have alreadystated, must be providedwith means for establishing connections with whatever is to be driven byone, two, or all three of them, so that whether the same be a fan, agrindstone, a coffee-mill, a sewing-machine, a washing-machine, a churn,a small lathe, or any other among the innumerable labor-savingmachinesers are used in conjunction quite sufficient "force is developed todrive almost every machine employed for domestic or family use in thehouse and yard, as well as in most workshops.

' On the drawing the platform on which the three mechanisms are placedand supported is of unbroken continuity, but it will readily beunderstood that in actual practice this platform must be made insections, so as to allow of a detachment whenever only one or two of theforces are needed for the work in hand. If, for example, it be desiredto drive a fan, the spring power is amply sufficient for that purpose,and hence I detach that power from the rest, and am enabled thereby notonly to avoid an unnecessary expenditure of power, but far moreconveniently to attach the same to a table, desk, or bed, either so asto place the axis of the fan in a horizontal or vertical position thanwould be possible if it were still connected with the two otherorganisms.

From this description of my invention it will be at once apparent thatmy invention.

presents a cheap, convenient, and efl'ective mechanical agent for doingall kinds of work without manual labor or further expense than isinvolved in the first cost of the machines,

and the inevitable wear and tear to which all machinery is subject. r aI Whatever the test, my machine, within the scope of the conjoint powerof the three forces that are combined in it, is always ready to adaptitself thereto and to fulfill the same. 'What 1 claim is- The springpower B, pulley and weight 0 D, and dog-power H, when secured on axles be h and sleeves w as, when the same are so combined and arranged as topermit of their independent use or of their being used together,substantially as described, as and for the pur poses specified. a

B. J. SAGE.

Witnesses:

RUFUS R. RnoDEs, EMILE H. LEVY.

